# US 8,788,217 B2 · Information notification sample processing system and methods of biological slide processing

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- Number: US 8,788,217 B2
- Document ID: US8788217B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/747,949
- Filed: 2013-01-23
- Published: 2013-08-08
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2002-12-20
- Assignees: Dako Denmark A/S
- Applicants: DAKO Denmark A/S
- Inventors: Gordon Feingold; Marc Key; John Favuzzi; Rosanne Welcher
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788217B2

## CPC

- G01N 35/00732: {Identification of carriers, materials or components in automatic analysers}
- G01N 1/30: Staining; Impregnating {; Fixation; Dehydration; Multistep processes for preparing samples of tissue, cell or nucleic acid material and the like for analysis}
- G01N 1/31: Apparatus therefor
- G01N 1/312: {for samples mounted on planar substrates}
- G01N 35/00871: {Communications between instruments or with remote terminals}
- G01N 35/0092: {Scheduling}
- G01N 35/0099: {comprising robots or similar manipulators (robots per se B25J)}
- G01N 35/00712: {Automatic status testing, e.g. at start-up or periodic}
- G01N 2035/00039: {Transport arrangements specific to flat sample substrates, e.g. pusher blade}
- G01N 2035/00089: {Magazines}
- G01N 2035/00306: {Housings, cabinets, control panels (details)}
- G01N 2035/00326: {Analysers with modular structure}
- G01N 2035/00366: {Several different temperatures used}
- G01N 2035/00376: {Conductive heating, e.g. heated plates}
- G01N 2035/00435: {Refrigerated reagent storage}
- G01N 2035/00881: {network configurations}
- G01N 2035/00891: {Displaying information to the operator}
- G01N 2035/009: {alarms, e.g. audible}
- G01N 2035/0091: {GUI [graphical user interfaces]}
- G16H 50/20: for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
- Y02A 90/10: Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
- Y10S 901/02: Arm motion controller
- Y10S 901/41: Tool
- Y10T 436/11: Automated chemical analysis
- Y10T 436/112499: with sample on test slide
- Y10T 436/113332: with conveyance of sample along a test line in a container or rack
- Y10T 436/114165: with step of insertion or removal from test line
- Y10T 436/114998: with treatment or replacement of aspirator element [e.g., cleaning, etc.]
- Y10T 436/25: including sample preparation
- Y10T 436/2575: Volumetric liquid transfer
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A sample processing system that may be automated and methods are disclosed where samples are arranged on a carrier element and a process operation control system automatically processes the samples perhaps robotically with an operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information monitor or a data capture element. Significant process details as well as operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information may be monitored and an automatic notice element may cause notification of a person at some display that may be remote. Various people may be notified, such as an administrator, a supplier, or a manufacturer of an opportunity for some action such as reagent reordering or the like. A simulated motion display may be included to “watch” simulated operation in real time or long after completion of the actual processing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of automated sample processing comprising the steps of:
establishing a network including at least one stainer, the at least one stainer having an automated process operation capability that causes automated process operation events through movement of a robotic member;
receiving a protocol in the at least one stainer via the network;
scheduling a plurality of sample process operations based on the protocol;
monitoring operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information;
automatically processing at least one sample arranged on a first slide using the at least one stainer at least in part through operation of said robotic member sequencing through said scheduled plurality of sample process operations, wherein automatically processing includes dispensing of a buffering agent by the robotic member;
inserting a second slide into the at least one stainer, wherein inserting the second slide does not interfere with movement of the robotic member related to the first slide: and
communicating via the network at least some exteriorly-consequential information in response to said step of monitoring operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of automated sample processing of claim 1, wherein the at least one stainer includes at least one reagent container, and wherein said step of monitoring usage information comprises the step of monitoring usage of reagent.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of automated sample processing of claim 2, further comprising the step of automatically communicating via the network a need for replenishing reagent of the at least one reagent container.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of automated sample processing of claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information comprises the step of monitoring predictive usage information.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of automated sample processing of claim 4, wherein said step of monitoring predictive usage information comprises the step of utilizing order lead time information, utilizing reagent order lead time information, or utilizing maintenance lead time information.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of automated sample processing of claim 1, wherein said step of communicating via the network at least some exteriorly-consequential information comprises the step of automatically informing at least one operator, an administrator, one supplier or one manufacturer of at least some exteriorly-consequential information.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of automated sample processing of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a second protocol for processing the second slide in the at least one stainer via the network; and
scheduling a second plurality of sample process operations based on the second protocol,
wherein communicating via the network at least some exteriorly-consequential information includes communicating via the network information of the insertion of the second slide and of a need for replenishing reagent of the at least one reagent container.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of automated sample processing of claim 7, further comprising inserting at least one new reagent container into the at least one stainer, where inserting the at least one new reagent container does not interfere with the fluid dispensing of the robotic member.

### Claim 9

A method of automated sample processing comprising the steps of:
establishing a network including at least one stainer, the at least one stainer having an automated process operation capability that causes automated process operation events through movement of a robotic member;
receiving a protocol in the at least one of stainer via the network;
scheduling a plurality of sample process operations based on the protocol;
processing at least one biological sample arranged on a first slide at least in part through operation of said robotic member sequencing through said scheduled plurality of sample process operations, wherein processing includes dispensing of a buffering agent via the robotic member;
inserting a second slide into the at least one stainer, wherein inserting the second slide does not interfere with movement of the robotic member related to the first slide;
storing details of a number of said plurality of sample process operations as the sample process operations occur;
and receiving an instruction from a user to establish a connection between said network and a remote location, and to display at least a portion of said details at said remote location.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A method as described in claim 9, wherein said network is connected to a laboratory network or a laboratory information system.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

A method as described in claim 9, wherein said connection is established from the network to a remote location that is a manufacturer, supplier, or maintenance personnel location.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

A method as described in claim 9, wherein storing details of a number of said plurality of sample process operations as the sample process operations occur further comprises storing slide status or processing sequence protocol.

### Claim 13

An automated sample processing system comprising:
a control system configured to receive a protocol via a network, said control system being configured to at least partially process at least one biological sample arranged on a first slide, and further configured to receive and process a second slide;
a robotic motion system responsive to said control system configured to move a robotic member and to dispense fluids from the robotic member, wherein receiving the second slide does not interrupt fluid dispensing of the robotic member, and wherein dispensing fluids includes dispensing a buffering agent;
a multiple event scheduler configured to schedule a plurality of sample process operations based on the protocol, said robotic motion system being at least in part responsive to the multiple event scheduler;
an operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information monitor configured to monitor usage information of the sample processing system;
and an exteriorly-consequential information notice element responsive to said operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information monitor, said exteriorly-consequential information notice element configured to communicate via the network the operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The automated sample processing system of claim 13, further comprising a historical usage information monitor, wherein the stainer also includes at least one reagent container.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The automated sample processing system of claim 14, further comprising an automatic predictive need notice element that determines a need for replenishing reagent of the at least one reagent container.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The automated sample processing system of claim 15, wherein said operationally-influential exteriorly-consequential information monitor comprises a predictive usage information element.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The automated sample processing system of claim 16, wherein said predictive usage information element comprises an order lead time information data element, a reagent order lead time information data element, or a maintenance lead time information data element.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The automated sample processing system of claim 17, wherein said exteriorly-consequential information notice element comprises an automatic operator exteriorly-consequential information notice element, an automatic administrator exteriorly-consequential information notice element, an automatic supplier exteriorly- consequential information notice element, or an automatic manufacturer exteriorly-consequential information notice element.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The automated sample processing system of claim 13, wherein
the control system is further configured to receive a second protocol via the network;
the multiple event scheduler is further configured to schedule a second plurality of sample process operations based on the second protocol, and
the exteriorly-consequential information notice element is configured to communicate via the network information regarding the insertion of the second slide and of a need for replenishing reagent of the at least one reagent container.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The automated sample processing system of claim 19, wherein the control system is further configured to receive at least one new reagent container, and wherein receiving the at least one new reagent container does not interrupt fluid dispensing of the robotic member.